Ford Confirms Hybrid F-150

We’ve privately known that Ford was working on a hybrid version of the F-150 for some time now, but Ford hasn’t said much about it. That is, until today. At a press conference at the Flat Rock, Michigan assembly plant, Ford announced that a hybrid version of the F-150 is coming.

As part of a much larger initiative to build advanced vehicles in the United States, the Dearborn plant that builds the F-150 will also be handling the hybrid F-150. While we don’t know much more about it other than it’ll be hybrid, we can make some assumptions and guesses about the new truck.

During Mark Fields’s speech, he stated that electrification could be used to improve the torque and performance of the pickup truck. Even so, it’d be unlikely to see the hybrid as the main workforce for the model.

In the most “realistic” scenario, which could be completely wrong at this point, the hybrid would be a two-wheel drive work truck for those businesses who need a truck for hauling, but don’t necessarily need something that can tow 10,000 lbs.

Though, hybrid systems have proven to be quite reliable over the years, and attaching a hybrid system onto the iconic 5.0L V8 or the 3.5L EcoBoost could create an interesting performer.

The biggest question we’d have about a hybrid F-150 is the weight and location of the batteries. In a SuperCrew configuration, the batteries could go under the rear seats, but what about a regular cab? What would be the available configurations on the hybrid?

We’ll probably know sooner than later, because Ford seems to be diving head-first into the hybridization of more and more of their vehicles.

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Chad Kirchner is the Editor-in-Chief of Future Motoring, along with the main host and producer of the Future Motoring podcast. In addition to his work here, he's a freelance automotive journalist for outlets around the world.